DAWSONVILLE, Ga. (AP) — Georgia wildlife authorities are looking into reports that a large black bear is menacing at least one resident in the Dawsonville area in the foothills of the north Georgia mountains.

Stella Millsapps told WSB-TV that she fears the bear might attempt to break into her home. She said the animal has come out of the woods night after night for the past several weeks and prowls around her property.

Millsapps set up a camera to capture pictures of the bear as it chewed on a garage can and her grill.

She's tied up her large garbage can to keep the bear from raiding it, but said it still gets into the garbage, dragging any food scraps and trash out the woods.

"We've had bears before, but they've never bothered stuff. This is the first time this is tearing up everything," Millsapps said.

Her daughter, Melissa Millsapps, added: "If he can do that, that close to the house, he could definitely get into a window or something like that, get in on somebody."

Stella Millsapps said that both she and her grandson have seen the bear.

She said a representative of the Department of Natural Resources said they would send someone out to try to trap the bear but did not give a specific date.

Information from: WSB-TV.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.

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South Georgia technical school appoints interim leader

VALDOSTA, Ga. (AP) — An interim president has been appointed at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College in Valdosta.

Ron Jackson, commissioner of the Technical College System of Georgia, on Tuesday announced the selection of Dr. Shawn Utley.

The Valdosta Daily Times reported that Utley's term as interim president begins May 1. That's the same day that current Wiregrass President Dr. Ray Perren becomes president of Lanier Technical College.

Utley is Moultrie Technical College's vice president of economic development. He has been with Moultrie Tech since 2004, when he began as vice president of satellite operations.

In 1991, he was hired as a teacher in the Coffee County School System. During his career, he also has served as an assistant principal and principal.

He obtained his higher education credentials from Valdosta State University where he has also been employed as an adjunct faculty member since 2005. He earned a bachelor of science in education in health and physical education, a master of education in educational leadership, an educational specialist in educational leadership, and his educational doctorate in educational leadership all from Valdosta State.

ATLANTA (AP) — Two inmates have been indicted in the 2011 killing of a fellow prisoner at the federal penitentiary in Atlanta.

Prosecutors say Donald R. Lafond Jr. and Jason Robert Widdison were exercising in a prison recreation area when the victim jointed them and tried to talk and walk with them. Prosecutors say a short while later Lafond and Widdison began to punch the victim, knocking him to the ground.

Prosecutors say the pair then stomped on the victim's head and neck as many as 10 times each before corrections officers could intervene.

The unconscious victim was taken to the hospital but never regained consciousness. He died just over a month later on April 5, 2011.

Lawyers for Lafond and Widdison did not immediately return calls seeking comment Thursday.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.

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Savannah car crash prompts death investigation

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — Police in coastal Georgia are investigating the death of a man whose car crashed into a chain link fence.

Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police spokesman Julian Miller says 38-year-old Roderick Richardson was found with wounds that were inconsistent with the severity of the crash Thursday morning.

Miller says Richardson was taken to the Memorial University Medical Center and was pronounced dead. Information on what type of wounds Richardson suffered was not immediately available.

The department's violent crimes detectives are probing the man's death.

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